The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced the dates for the 2024 federal benefits open season. The dates are November 11, 2024 and continuing through December 9, 2024. This is the time of year that federal employees and retirees must make choices for health, dental and vision insurance for themselves and their family members.
It is also the time for employees to consider the money they can save on their out-of-pocket medical and dependent care expenses for the year 2025 by enrolling or re-enrolling in a flexible spending account.
NEW:2025 FEHB Premium Rate Charts Now Available
Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program
Most FEHB health plans will see benefits and premium changes for the year 2025. OPM announced that the 2025 FEHB premiums will increase on average 13.50 percent during 2025 over what they were during 2024. This is the largest increase in recent years. Some plans are dropping out of the program and others are changing their service areas or coverage options. Employees and retirees are advised to check OPM’s Benefits Administration Letters for significant plan changes.
Federal employees and retirees are also advised to review their health insurance coverage for themselves and their families for this year in order to decide which health insurance plan best meets their medical needs for 2025. The 2025 FEHB premiums may be viewed here.
During the annual FEHB program open season, any employee or retiree eligible to participate in the FEHB program may enroll, change health plans or options, cancel their FEHB enrollment, and change participation in premium conversion (waive or begin participation in premium conversion is for employees only). Note that if an employee or a retiree does not change his or her 2024 FEHB plan, then enrollment in that plan continues automatically into 2025.
Advertisement
To make any of the above changes in FEHB enrollment for 2025, the following are places employees can access:
1. Employee Express. OPM has a list of agencies that participate in Employee Express.
2. Department of Defense employees. DoD automated enrollment systems.
3. US Postal Service employees. Enroll using the Postal Service Health System (PSHS).PSHS is starting on January 1, 2025.
4. Health and Human Services and Department of Veterans Affairs. Employees can enroll using MyPay.
5. Department of Energy. Employees can enroll using the DOE automated systems.
6. Employees of agencies payrolled by the National Finance Center. Enroll through Employee Personal Page.
7. Employees can submit Standard Form 2809 (Employee Health Benefits Election Form) (can be downloaded at https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf2809.pdf). Submit to their Human Resources Office, unless the employee is a Postal Service employee.
Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program
Federal employees and retirees can supplement their health insurance coverage by choosing separate dental and/or vision insurance coverage that will hopefully reduce their out-of-pocket costs for dental and vision care. The program is called the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).Employees and retirees can include family members (spouses and children under the age of 22) on their FEDVIP insurance.
There is no requirement that an employee or a retiree be enrolled in an FEHB program health plan in order to enroll in the FEDVIP. Participating dental and vision providers may be different from FEHB program health care providers. Coverage in FEDVIP will continue into retirement automatically unless an employee disenrolls from the FEDVIP during the annual FEDVIP open season.
Those employees and retirees who are enrolled in a FEHB program health plan which offers some dental and vision benefits will have primary coverage for dental and vision expenses through their FEHB plan and have secondary coverage for their dental and vision benefits if they are enrolled in a FEDVIP dental and/or vision insurance plan.
Unlike the FEHB program in which the federal government pays on average 72 to 75 percent of an employee’s or retiree’s FEHB program premiums, employees and retirees pay the full cost of the FEDVIP premiums.
Those employees and retirees who are enrolled in a FEDVIP plan for 2024 will automatically have those enrollments continue into 2025, although benefits and premiums may change. Employees and retirees should make sure that their plan is still participating during 2025. FEDVIP plan information for 2025 should be available at www.benefeds.gov in early November.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Employees can save money through lower tax withholdings. An employee can fund his or her FSA through pre-tax contributions from gross salary. The FSA can be used to pay health care out-of-pocket or dependent care expenses.
There are three accounts which to choose: (1) A dependent care account; (2) a health care account; and (3) a limited expense health care account. Employees can be reimbursed for the employee’s out-of-pocket FEHB program health plan expenses or non-FEHB program health care expenses. This includes deductibles. copayments and coinsurance. Employees who are enrolled in a health care account or a limited expense health care account can also be reimbursed for out-of-pocket FEDVIP expenses, or other dental and vision insurance expenses.
Information about the FSAFEDs program may be obtained at www.fsafeds.com. Enrollment is done on www.fsafeds.com.
OTHER INFORMATION FROM OPM
Which federal benefits programs participate in the open season?
During the annual open season, federal employees can enroll, change plans or plan options, change enrollment type, or cancel their enrollment for the:
- Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program
- Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
Employees can also re-enroll or newly enroll in the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS).
The Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program and the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) do not participate in the annual open season.
Options During 2024 Federal Benefits Open Season
FEHB – Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
What are my options during the 2024 FEHB open season?
- Enroll
- Change plans
- Change plan options
- Change enrollment type (to Self, Self Plus One, or Self and Family)
- Cancel coverage
What if I do nothing?
Your current coverage will automatically continue. You do not need to take any action if you are satisfied with your current FEHB plan. However, you must change plans if your plan has ended coverage in your area or your plan is terminating participation in the FEHB Program.
What is the effective date of enrollment or change?
The first day of the first pay period that begins on or after January 1, 2025 and which follows a pay period during any part of which you (if an employee) are in pay status.
FEDVIP – Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program
What are my options during open season?
- Enroll
- Change plans
- Change plan options
- Change enrollment type (to Self, Self Plus One, or Self and Family)
- Cancel coverage
What if I do nothing?
Your current coverage will automatically continue. You do not need to take any action if you are satisfied with your current FEDVIP plan.
What is the effective date of enrollment or change?
January 1, 2025
FSAFEDS – Federal Flexible Spending Account Program
What are my options during open season?
- Enroll/Reenroll in Health Care FSA (HCFSA), Limited Expense Health Care FSA (LEX HCFSA), and Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA)
What if I do nothing?
Your election will not automatically continue. You must reenroll to continue your account(s) for the next benefit year.
NOTE: A condition of being eligible to carry over unused funds from this plan year’s HCFSA or LEX HCFSA is re-enrolling in either of these two plans in the subsequent year. DCFSAs are ineligible for carryover.
What is the effective date of enrollment or change?
January 1, 2025
Preparing for 2025 Federal Benefits Open Season
OPM provided some sample questions to help enrollees review their benefits and needs for health care coverage:
What are my and/or my family’s expected health care needs for 2025?
Questions while reviewing your FEHB plan: Am I expecting a new baby? Do I need surgery? Will my medication needs change? Does my plan provide a pharmacy mail order option for prescriptions?
Questions while reviewing FEDVIP: Do I need routine dental care? Will I need a crown or root canal? Does my child need braces? Do I need glasses and/or contact lens? Am I considering laser vision correction surgery?
Questions while reviewing FSAFEDS: Do I have out-of-pocket expenses I need to consider, such as deductibles, copays, day care, elder care, or over-the-counter drugs and medicines? Does my child need braces or use acne treatment? Do I plan to send my children (under 13) to in-home care or summer camp?
Related:
- 2025 FEHB Plan Comparison Tools, Brochures, Premium Rates
- FEHB and Medicare: How They Work Together for Federal Employees
Edward A. Zurndorfer is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, Registered Health Underwriter and Enrolled Agent in Silver Spring, MD. Tax planning, Federal employee benefits, retirement and insurance consulting services offered through EZ Accounting and Financial Services, located at 833 Bromley Street Suite A, Silver Spring, MD 20902-3019